Uncreated Conscience

You know, back in the days before I started working in publishing, you really couldn’t get me to shut up online; I blogged with such frequency it was ridiculous. Now that I have actual substantive things to say, I can’t corral my undergrad expository paper-writing tendencies enough to distill my thoughts into short, byte-sized informative posts, so I often don’t bother. Not to mention I lack the time. So kudos to all the industry professionals like Rachelle Gardner, Nathan Bransford, and Kristin Nelson for blogging every day! (Although I haven’t yet read an editor who blogs everyday…maybe that in itself is quite telling…)

Anyway, I was going to review MAGIC UNDER GLASS, discuss storytelling and craft, dissect the idea of literary fiction with a commercial bent, and write about half a dozen other topics, but didn’t have time. So you know what? I’m going to blog about the first thing that comes to mind today.

Which is The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

And specifically the Disney version. Because I rewatched it last night. And I kind of love the movie and have developed a newfound appreciation for it.

(more…)

Once more med school prom has come and gone I have the photographic evidence in my nail-polish stained fingers. There needs to be more (semi)formal events in my life so I can indulge my inner princess by wearing pretty, pretty dresses and makeup.

From a mask and makeup test a few weeks ago.

My mother once accused me of living in a made-up world of stories and fairytales. Of course, I found this vastly complimentary, but Mum actually intended it as a criticism of how I dress. I stand convicted. As you might recall, last year Bear and I went as a gangster and moll from the 1930s. This year the med school itself gave me a theme: masquerade ball.

Photos from the night (and the process of getting ready) below the cut.

(more…)

New post at Running Roommates!

Don't be fooled; this is not snow. It's ice.

Things I Learned This Past Weekend

• Running on ice works all the small muscle groups in your legs.
• Running on ice when you have one flat foot also causes blisters.
• You should always live with a tall roommate so she can do things like change your lightbulbs for you.

I’ve read MAGIC UNDER GLASS and I’m itching to discuss it, but I shall postpone that blog post for another day when I have more time. Things are picking up around here–good for business, bad for my sanity. Also, this Friday is Masquerade Prom and I have to figure out how I’m going to get ready for it when I have a full work day. Can I curl my hair on the New Jersey Transit, do you think?

Mum is in town and I’ve subjected her to a healthy dose of icky snow. Too bad she couldn’t bring southern Californian sunshine with her. I am so over February. Hell, I’m so over winter it’s not even funny.

Because I am sappy and because I have the most adorable Teddy Bear in the world who needs to be told he’s loved with similar levels of cuteness.

I love you, Teddy Bear.

If you haven’t heard the news by now, Cap’n Sweet Valley has acquired his first book!

Francine Pascal’s SWEET VALLEY CONFIDENTIAL, following her iconic identical blonde twins and full cast of characters into adulthood, now in their late twenties and early thirties, “where the real world intrudes,” to Dan Weiss at St. Martin’s (who created the original series with Pascal when he was a book packager), with Hilary Rubin Teeman editing, for publication in early 2011.

Via Publishers Marketplace

Yes indeed, our first book is a nice trip down memory lane for everyone involved. My friends were obsessed with these books when we were in elementary school (I was, alas, not allowed to read them–but never fear, I am properly caught up now) and of course, Cap’n Sweet Valley and Francine Pascal have a long history together. This is an adult title, not young adult.

Official press release to follow beneath the cut.

(more…)

Um, can we just talk about this for a second?

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

From the Scholastic Corporate Communications blog.

Do you hear that? That’s JJ squeeing from her desk in the Flatiron Building.

In a completely unrelated note to what I’m about to discuss: Happy 25th birthday to my darling Teddy Bear! White-Harp wishes him a happy berfday too. *\(^.^)/*

Summer: Your typical Manic Pixie Dream Girl

Lately I’ve come across something in all my work reading that has become common enough to warrant a blog post. Her name Quirky McSprite and she is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl.

You are all familiar with Manic Pixie Dream Girls–they exist everywhere, both in real life and in various forms of media. Take a walk down any street in Greenpoint or Williamsburg and you’ll meet 8 million hipster girls who fit the criteria. The Manic Pixie Dream Girl seems to be the most prevalent onscreen these days, starting with Annie Hall and tracing her path from Penny Lane to Sam from Garden State and most recently ending with Summer from 500 Days of Summer.

This, my friends, is a big problem.

(more…)

I am dire need of a divan, a fainting couch, a sofa, a futon–anything. When I first signed on for this gig, I knew there would be a lot of reading involved, but I didn’t quite factor in the occupational hazards. The volume of reading I can deal with, but it’s how I read that’s starting to catch up to me. Reading while sitting at my desk wreaks havoc on my neck and shoulders. At the moment I’ve jerry-rigged an arrangement where I lean the back of my desk chair against one angle of my desk while I prop my feet up on the opposite angle. This sort of approximates a reclining angle, but any sudden movement and I’m head over heels on the floor.

White-Harp Brrrrito! Also doubles as a neck pillow.

White-Harp often comes to work with me now to double as a neck pillow. Finally found a way to earn her keep, oh that Lazy Harp.

(more…)

You all want to see a video of Cap’n Sweet Valley, no? You know you all do. Because he’s really adorable.

He plays “Stoneage Literary Agent”. He’s a show stealer, that one. You’ve all seen WeBook, of course. You haven’t? Then why are you waiting?

Remember this video White-Harp made for Maggie Stiefvater SHIVER?

(more…)